Baltimore Orioles: Evaluating potential remaining free-agent options

Boone Logan, LHP

The Orioles spent most of 2016 without a dedicated left-handed specialist in their bullpen. Having the dominant core of Mychal Givens, Brad Brach, Darren O’Day, and Zach Britton, who all fare well against hitters from both sides of the plate makes it easier for Buck Showalter to get by without a LOOGY. Down the stretch, the Orioles discovered that lefty sidewinder Donnie Hart was actually quite good, but the ‘pen could always use one more dominant left-hander.

There are not a ton of great left-handed relief options left on the open market, but Boone Logan leads the small pack. Travis Wood is also a free agent, but has eyes on returning to the starting rotation. Logan held lefties to a .142/.222/.255 line last year with a microscopic .215 BABIP. He is due for a contract that pays at least $7 million per year, which may be too rich for the Orioles, but is worth considering.

Logan would represent a luxury not a need for the Orioles, and the current front office has shown very little interest in luxury purchases. The Orioles will have a very good bullpen with or without another left-handed option should Hart falter. Another lefty would hardly be a bad thing, and would allow Givens to focus his talents solely on right-handed hitters. The Orioles are still looking at more than a few five-inning clunkers from their starting rotation next year, and strengthening the bullpen is one way to counterbalance that.